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Lambert out to make his mark

Rickie Lambert is now ready to look past the initial emotional delight of signing for his hometown club and is focused on showing his true quality for Liverpool in the new season.

As a boyhood Reds fan, Lambert saw a dream realised this summer when Brendan Rodgers moved to make the Kirkby native his first signing for the 2014-15 campaign.

He made his first appearance in a red shirt when he played the opening 45 minutes in Saturday's friendly at Preston North End, and looks set for action as the Reds take on AS Roma at the historic Fenway Park in Boston on Wednesday night.

While the sentimental aspect of his arrival is not lost on the player, Lambert is now keen to get down to business and demonstrate exactly why the manager chose to add him to the club's list of exciting attacking talents.

"It's a good story and I'm happy talking about it but I think the time has gone past that now," Lambert said, speaking about the emotional ties.

"Everyone knows how much it means to me and how a lot of Liverpool fans will like the idea of signing a Scouser and a Liverpudlian but it was the simple fact that he [Rodgers] thought I was good enough to be a Liverpool player.

"It had no sentiment in it. Football has no place for sentimental things. As soon as you hold on to sentimental things it gets knocked out of you straight away.

"It's about what I do on the pitch, it's as simple as that and I'm happy with that.

"The first game of the season is coming and believe me when I say that is all I am focusing on.

"I want to get myself in the best shape possible. I know when I am fully fit that is when you will see the best of me."

If Lambert found himself in familiar surroundings on his return to Merseyside, he was soon to be joined by his friend and former Southampton and England international teammate Adam Lallana, who followed him through the door.

He added: "When Adam told me Liverpool were interested I knew straight away he could fit in because he plays so many different positions across the line.

"Even then I was thinking 'what a great signing' he will be for Liverpool. That was a while back so it's a great signing. I would say that if I was a Liverpool player or not.

"It's early days but I can see how he has fitted in straight away.

"He is a top player. Obviously it's really disappointing for Southampton to lose a player like that but amazing for Liverpool."

Ironically, both Lambert and Lallana will be in contention to make their competitive Reds debut at Anfield against their former club, as Liverpool play host to Southampton on the opening day of the Premier League season.

Lambert said: "That was always going to happen wasn't it!

"I can't believe it. It's going to be emotional enough as it is without playing against a club so close to my heart as Southampton."